Label securing attachment



Nov; 4, 1958 Filed Aug. 20, 1956 T H. B. l'UTHlLL 2,858,954

LABEL SECURING ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I M Q9 Howard B. 7Z1/h/7/ NOW 1958' H. B. TUTHILL 2,353,954

LABEL SECURING ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1956 2 Sheets$heet 2 M Howard B. Tu/hf/l I 2 46 Afforn'ey United States Patent LABEL SECURING ATTACHMENT Howard B. Tuthill, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to 6 Oliver Machinery Company, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application August 20, 1956, Serial No. 604,962

6 Claims. 01. 21657) The present invention is concerned with a novel and useful improvement in the attachment of labels tosmall bottles and the like of the type shown in my pending application, Serial No. 583,036, filed May 7,1956." In such application, the bottles or vials are carried successively in spaced relation to each other by an endless conveyor in which at spaced intervals carriages for the bottles are interposed. Labels are deposited lengthwise of and at the upper sides of the bottles or vials and having a thermoplastic cementitious composition at their under side, will adhere to the bottle in a zone lengthwise and midway between the longitudinal edges of the labels.

securing of the labels to the curved surfaces of the bottles or vials to which connected is attained. The labels are pressed against the curved surfaces of the bottles and at the same time, through what may be termed a wiping action, are securely connected with the edge portions of the labels secured in place, without leavingany parts of the edges free from the bottles which, if it occurred, would result in a danger of the labels being bent back or torn away.

' An understanding of the invention and of a preferred structural embodiment thereof may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation with some parts broken away and shown in section of the rear end portion of the label attaching machines used, at which rear end portion my invention is located and used.

' Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a vial or small bottle with the label applied thereto as it is initially deposited and partially secured at a central longitudinal zone thereof. v

Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view showing the label when it has been completely secured in place. Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical section substantially on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and p Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are somewhat enlarged, fragmentary elevations with parts broken away and in section showing the last step of label attachment operation.

The environment for the present invention includes a horizontal guiding track 1, channeled at its upper side, in which the upper run of endless chain 2 is moved continuously at uniform speed in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. On such chain at spaced intervals carriages 3 are mounted by means of brackets 4 (Fig. 7). Each carriage comprises a somewhat elongated block at its upper side having downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces to make a longitudinal trough in which a bottle 5, shown of circular form, is deposited to automatically Patented Nov. 4, 1958 locate itself substantially centrally of the carriage. Prior to reaching the last stage of label fixing on each bottle as it is moved, an elongated label 6, shorter than, but nearly the full length of the bottle is deposited, the label having been previously elevated in temperature by suitable means so that the under surface coating which is of a thermoplastic nature is softened, and a narrow, centrally located zone 7 of the label contacts the upper side of the bottle and is cemented thereto. The outer longitudinal edge portion 8 of the labels (Fig. 2) extends outwardly as shown, free from the bottle.

In my application previously mentioned, the novel mechanism for accomplishing the functions and results thus far described is fully shown, together with a means, such as the fingers 9, a pair of which are at each rear edge of each carriage 3, and extend upwardly to engage the adjacent end of the label and properly locate it with respect to the bottle and to position the longitudinal gdgels of said label parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ot e.

With the labels secured at the narrow zone 7 on the bottles, such bottles are moved continuously and uniformly underneath the final label aflixing mechanism which is the subject matter of the present invention. Such mechanism includes an endless conveyor chain 10 over the upper run of the chain 2, the lower run of chain 10 moving in the same direction and at the same speed of movement as chain 2. Such chain 10 is carried at its ends around sprockets 11, the shafts of which may extend through a plate 12 located outwardly and spaced from a second vertical plate 13 which is a part of the framework of the machine and which. carries the plate 12 through the post or stud 14 and part 15 as in Fig. 4.

The plate 12 is of greatest vertical dimension midway between its ends and progressively decreases in height toward both of its ends. The under side of the plate 12 has a curved convex form as best shown in Fig. l. The lower run of the chain 10 therefore progressively approaches the carriages 3 and the bottles and labels carried thereon until the midway point between the ends of such plate 12 is reached and thereafter progressively recedes therefrom.

At spaced positions in the length of the endless chain 10 a plurality of label engaging devices are secured, in general paralleling the lengths of the bottles and being spaced from each other the same distances as the carriages 3 which carry the bottles. Included in such label affixing completing device is a base 16 of metal, fastened by brackets to chain 10 and having at the outer side thereof two spaced apart flanges or legs 16a. To such legs and associated therewith are fixed outer relatively stifi but resilient metal plates 17, the length of which will be substantially the same or slightly in excess of the length of a label 8. Inside each of the plates 17 is a sheet 18 of a material which has a surface of very low frictional coeflicient being smooth and non-adhesive and non-frictional in. action, easily bendable and resilient, returning to its initial form when strained away therefrom. In practice it is supplied by material well known to those skilled in the art by the name of Teflon. Between such sheets and ext nding upwardly between the flanges 16a is a block 19, in practice of sponge rubber, which at its lower side is concavedto fit substantially over the label 6 and press it downwardly into engagement with the upper curved side of the bottle 5.

Such block of rubber 19 is compressed when it reaches its lowermost position of travel midway between the ends of the member 12. The longitudinal edges of the labels 6 extend short distances beyond the longitudinal lower side edges of the block 19 and are pressed against by the members 18 Which are curved or flared outwardly at their lower longitudinal edges as shown in Fig. 7. Such members 17 are strained'outwardly and bear with some pressure against the free longitudinal edge portions of the label, pressing them snugly and securely against the bottle and securing the adhesive connection of the label, particularly'atsuch'edges"toth'e"bottle.

Iheaction "whiclr has been described is illustrated in Figs. 5,-'6 and 7. '-Itwillbe'evident,referringto fig. '5, that when-the labehenga-ging'memberrcomes first to the label it will dose at the endof the'label'nearestthebottle closure and there will bea'continuous progressive'engagement of the spongerubber 19' and"tlieTefion elements it; of the labelfrom one 'endtothe other. "lnisuch action the outwardlyextending'*free"longitudinal edge portions 8 will progressively come against the buttletsurfac'e'a'nd the lower edges of"the Teflonsheets 18, by' what may be termed a downward wiping a'cti'onfwill 1 progressiveiy move thelongitudinahedge'portio'ns of thelabel into intimate adhesive-engagement with thebottle. Such movement continues until the stage shown in "Fig. 6 is reached *where-such -label'edge connecting device is-directly below the-central 'widestportion ofthe"plate 12. Thereafter, on continuing movement'ofboththec'a'rriage 3 and the bottle 5 thereon and of the"'associatediedge label attachment device, the end of such device nearest the 'closure end' of the bottle is lifted and progressively moves away'from the label untile'ntirely freed therefrom. The compressed sponge rubber acts to furnistr'an ejecting force which disconnects or disassociatesthe'bottle with the attached label-from the device maintainingsaid bottle in its position on the carriage 3.

The-structure described has proved 'to'be-exceptionally certain and'accurate in operation. "The edgeportions of labels are perfectly secured'to the bottles to which applied through their entire lengths and the speed of cementing labels to bottles may be increasedwith a 'certainty ofuniformity of product comingfrom the machine.

The invention -is defined in' the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In means for completing the attachment of a label to an articlehaving a convex label receiving surface, the combination comprising: a base member; a'pairof flexible fiaps' each having one edge secured to'saidba'semember along opposite sides thereof and projecting away from said base member; a thin, stiff plate'characterized by resilience, overlying a major'portion of each of'said flaps and firmly secured to said base member with "said flapsbetween said base member and said plates; a yieldable -block seated'between said flaps; the face of said block adjacent'the free endsof said flaps havinga concave trough therein parallel to said flaps; said flaps projecting beyond said face of said block.

2'. In means for completing the attachmentof a label to an article'having a convex labelreceiving'surfacefthe combination comprising: a base member; a pair of flexible flaps each having one edgesecured to said base-member along opposite sides 'th reof and projecting'away from'said'base member; a thin, stiifplate'charaeteriz ed by resilience, overlying a major portion of -'each' ofsaid flaps and firmly secured to saidbase member with said flaps between said base member and said 'plates; the ends of said plates remote from said base member-being flared outwardly away from ach other; a yieldable block seated between said flaps; the face of saidblockadjacent the free ends of said flaps having a concave trough therein parallel to said flaps; said flaps projecting beyond-said face of said block.

3. In means for'completing'the attachmentof a label to an article having a convex label receiving surface, the combination comprising: a base member; a pair of flexible flaps each having one edge secured to said base member along opposite sides thereof and projecting away from said base member; a thin, stiff plate characterized by resilience, overlying a major portion of each of said flaps and firmly secured to said base member with said flaps between said base member and said plates; the ends of both said plates and said flaps remote from said base member being flared outwardly; a yieldable bloclcseated between said'flaps; the face of saidublock-adjacentthe free ends of said flaps having a concave trough therein parallel to said flaps; said flaps projecting beyond said face of said block.

4. In means for completing the attachment of a label to an article having a convex label receiving surface, the combination comprising: an elongated base member; a pair of flexible flaps each having onetedge secured to said base member along opposite sides thereof and projecting away from said base member; a thin, stifi' plate characterized by resilience, overlying a major portion of each of said flaps and firmly secured to said base member with said flaps between said base member and said plates; a yieldable block seated'between said 'fiaps'; the face of said block adjac nt the free ends of said fiaps having a concave trough therein parallel to said'flaps and extending in the direction of elongation of'said base member; said flaps projecting beyond said'face'of said block; means for rocking said base member about -an axis normal to said trough.

'5. In means for completing the attachment of a label to an article having a convex label receiving surface, the combination comprising: an elongated base member; a pairof flexible flaps each having one edge secured to said base member along opposite sides thereof and projecting away from said base member; a thin, stiff plate characterized by resilience, overlying a major portion of each of said flaps and firmly secured to said base member with said flaps between said base member and said plates; a yieldable block seated between said flaps; the face of said block adjacent the free ends 'of said flaps'having a concave trough-therein parallel to said'flaps and extending in the direction of elongation of said base member; said flaps projecting beyond said face of said block; a carrier for said base member movable in the direction of elongation thereof; means for rocking said base member about an axis normal to said trough.

6. In means for completing the attachm nt of alab'el to an article having a convex'label receiving surface; the combination comprising: a base member; a pairoflfiexible flaps each having one edge secured to said base-member along opposite sides thereof and projecting. away from said base member; said flaps being characterized by anti-friction surfaces; a thin, stiff plate characterized by resilience, overlying a major portionv ofeach ofsaid flaps and firmly secured to said' base member with said flaps between said base member and said plates; a,yieldable block seated between said flaps; the facefofsaid block adjacent thefree ends of said flaps having -a concave trough therein parallel to said flaps; said .fiaps projecting beyond said face-of said block.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATESPATENTS 

